Mauck, Central pull men’s basketball stunner at Wartburg
WAVERLY—In a season when so much has gone wrong, the feisty Central College men’s basketball keeps scrapping to make things go right.
Pulling off arguably the biggest upset of the American Rivers season, the last-place Dutch went on the road and put a dent in Wartburg College’s title hopes Wednesday, knocking off the second-place Knights 73-72.
A week after seeing a six-point lead slip away in the game’s final minute at Nebraska Wesleyan University, Central used a relentless defense to secure the road surprise. Central (5-16 overall, 2-11 conference) limited Wartburg to 35.9% shooting, including just 26.9% from 3-point range. Central shot 47.5% from the floor and knocked down nine 3-pointers.
“Our defense was tremendous,” coach Craig Douma said. “Just tremendous.”
That allowed Central to overcome 15 turnovers, including two in the final 26 seconds.
“We were 1-11 or whatever in the conference and we just didn’t have the confidence yet that you need with a lead late in the game,” Douma said.
But the Dutch were clutch at the free throw line, hitting five of their final six free throws in the closing minute, including one by Kaleb Brand (sophomore, Mount Vernon) with 9 seconds left that put Central up 73-69, rendering a last-second 3-pointer by Wartburg irrelevant.
There were contributions from up and down the roster but none bigger than the 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists from fifth-year senior forward Caden Mauck (Kansas City, Mo., Blue Springs South HS).
“Caden really played well,” Douma said. “He hit some big shots.”
Guard Drew Edwards (junior, Eden Prairie, Minn.) had 13 points, including a pair of key free throws with 52 seconds left, along with five rebounds and four assists. Center Joshua Van Gorp (sophomore, Pella, Pella Christian HS) had 12 points and guard Kade Terrell (senior, Montrose, Colo.) had 10 points with four boards and three assists.
Douma singled out Mauck and Terrell.
“It’s fun to see those two guys as seniors playing like they are down the stretch,” Douma said. “They’re playing with a lot of grit.”
The Dutch coach wasn’t happy with Central’s performance on the glass. Wartburg (16-6 overall, 9-4 conference) outrebounded the Dutch 44-35, including a 19-8 advantage on offensive rebounds. But Douma said a key number was limiting Wartburg to eight fast-break points.
“We did a much better job of taking away their transition offense,” Douma said.
Central led by as much as 38-25 with 4:26 left in the first half. But Wartburg charged to within 40-35 at halftime and briefly took a 50-49 lead with 13:02 remaining in the game. Central quickly answered, however, with a Kole Tupa (sophomore, Center Point, Center Point-Urbana HS) 3-pointer and never trailed again.
Just 10 days remain in the season, but the Dutch are in no hurry to see it end.
“This says a lot about our players’ resilience,” Douma said. “How many teams with our record would practice so hard and play so hard every day? I give so much credit to these guys.”
It’s a young roster, Douma said, noting that most of the players played just a handful of games in last year’s pandemic-shortened season.
“Our sophomores are really freshmen this year,” he said.
And it’s a squad that is still getting better.
“The kids are starting to believe in our offense,” Douma said. “It’s fun to watch.”
Central makes the season’s final road trip Saturday, heading to Decorah to take on Luther College in a women’s-men’s conference doubleheader with the men’s game tipping off at approximately 4 p.m. Luther is 7-15 overall and 4-10 in the league after dropping a 61-41 home-court decision against Loras College Wednesday. The Norse defeated Central at Pella Jan. 15, 61-53.
